Uncoupling device



Oct. 18, 1927. w. KELSO UNCOUPLING DEVICE Filed Oct, 15, 1926 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Jywwntov W. KELSO Oct. 18, 1927.

UNCOUPLING DEVICE Filed Oct, 13, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1,645, 5 Oct.18,1927. KELSO 7 6 UNCOUPLING DEVICE I Filed 001;. 13, 1926 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 18, 1927. 3

UNITED STATES 1,645,756 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM KELSO, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MCCONWAY &

TORLEY COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN-SYLVANIA.

UNCOUPLING DEVICE.

Application filed October 13, 1926. Serial No. 141,319.

My invention relates to an uncoupling device for actuating the lockingmechanism of a car coupler so as to cause it to assume the positionsnecessary for unlocking and 6 opening the knuckle.

Car couplers in common use at the present time are usually constructedwith a lock lifter or actuating member which, in addition to serving asa means for moving the lock to unlocked position, also perform thefunction of a lock-to-the-lock for preventing the locking block by whichoutward rotation of the knuckle is restrained from accidental 1y movingto unlocked position as a result 16 of the blows and jars incident toservice.

While such lock-to-the-lock means is generally satisfactory,particularly where the speed of the trains is moderate, it is the objectof my invention to provide improved means for preventing the couplerlook from accidentally moving to unlocked position, such improved meansbeing capable of employment in conjunction with means designed for thatpurpose now in use and when associated with the latter serving tosupplement the same so as to overcome any defect of operation thereof.

The primary feature of the invention consists in constructing theuncoupling device as an uncoupling lever formed of a plurality ofrelatively movable lever members, one of the lever members being adaptedto actuate another to cause the latter to perform an uncouplingmovement, and means being provided for preventing the last named levermember from accidentally moving to uncoupling position until after themember by which it is actuated has executed a preliminary movementtoward uncoupling position.

A further feature of the invention con sists in constructing the devicewith an uncoupling lever comprising relatively movable lever arm memberswhich are capable of changing their angular relations, means beingprovided for movably mounting the uncoupling lever on a car body, andthe said lever arm members being operatively coupled so that neither iscapable of assuming uncoupling position independently of the other. Amore specific feature of the invention consists in forming theuncoupling device with a transversely extending Lincoupli'rig levercomprising an outer rotatable niiiii iet and an inner rotatable mam:-

ber relatively movable thereto and adapted to be actuated thereby, andin associating therewith means for preventing the inner end of the innermember from moving upwardly independently of a downward rota-L tion ofthe outer end of the outer member.

Further features of the invention pertaining to advantageous structuraldetails and combinations of parts will hereinafter appear and be pointedout in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a plan view of an uncoupling device embodying the invention,showing its relation to the end of a car, the parts being in lockedposition.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the construction shown in Fig. 1,also showing the parts in locked position. i

Figure 3 is a detail elevational view of a portion of the mechanism, theparts being in locked position and a portion of the outer uncouplinglever member being broken away.

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2, but showing the positionsassumed by the parts when the coupler locking mechanism is in lock-setposition permitting the knuckle to be subsequently opened.

Figure 5 is an elevational View showing the relation the parts assumewhen the device is actuated for throwing the knuckle open, this relationof the parts als being that which obtains before the downward forceapplied to the outer end of the outer lever arm is released in the actof setting the lock in lock-set position.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 66 Fig. 1.

Figure 7 is a detail plan view of the uncoupling lever fulcrum bracket.

Figure 8 is a detail elevational View of the fulcrum bracket.

Figure 9 is a detail plan view of the outer end of the inner uncouplinglever member.

Figure 10 is a detail elevation of the outer vent the locking block fromaccidentally moving upward to unlocked position.

The uncoupling device for actuating the coupler locking mechanisminvolves a transversely extending lever. 'fulcrumed upon a 2sufliciently to accommodate the movements of the coupler. The outer endofthis leve .member 5 is fashioned with a' shouldered opening or recess10 into which portions of V the vfulcrum bracket 3 project. At its upperend the recess inthehmember 5: is constricted,

f as indicated at 11, to receive a lockin'glug 12 carried by thebracket. .It will be seen thatthis lug by cooperating with the inner"levermember 5, prevents the flatter from executing an uncouplingrotation until after ithas moved upward "su'fiiciently far to permitsaid lugvto pass out of the constricted ,portion 11 ofthe opening in theinner lever Qmemberi At the lower end of ,the constrict- [ed portion 11the recess 10 atthe outer end 0f. the innerjlever member is shoulderedas at 13 ,so that, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the

:outer end of the member 5 may be supported by resting uponthe upperendof thelocking lug'12 when theparts are in"lock-setl.position. Toward itslower end the braeketreceivingvopening of the :inner lever member v.isbounded by an inclined face or wall 14 ,adaptedtocooperate with a luglorprojection 15 which, like vthe locking lug 12, may conveniently be madeintegral with the fulcrum bracket 3. The lower end of the lug 15 ispreferably rounded so as to form a pivotal point for the inner levermember 5 ,when the latter rotates as it ;movesto and from uncouplingposition. The incline 14 by cooperating with the stationary'flug 15causes the inner uncoupling lever member 5 V "to be shifted laterallyso'as to position: the

shoulder 13 of the lever above the locking lug 12 afterthe inner levermember has been freed from thelocking control ofsaid lug.

Inward movement of the lever member 5 with respect to the car may beconveniently ,efiecte d by providing the bracketBiwith an mpwardlyextending lug 16 which overlaps .theinner face of said lever member."Outer -movement of the inner lever member is prevented by the otherlever member 4. which liesoutside vof the member 5 and is pivotallysecured to the bracket 3. This pivotal mounting of the outer levermember 4 is preferably eflected by forming the bracket with a pivot stud17 onwhich the lever member is journaled. The memberfi may be conveniently retained in assembled relationito the bracket by means ofawasher 18 and a bolt 19.

The outer lever member 4 of the uncoupling device is adapted to beactuated either bythe hand:or:the foot. To'limit its movement in anuncoupling direction the fulcrum bracket 3 is preferably provided with aforwardly projecting portionQO which passes below the outer arm 4 ofhtheuncoupling lever in outwardly spaced relation to the point of pivotalsupportbf thelatter. "The vstop thus formed acts directly onztheouterarm of the outer'lever member 4 randrthereby serves to prevent-excessivemovement of this member in case ofbreakage of "the inner member 5 or adisconnection of the innerz arm from the lock; lifter 2. It will'be'appreci ated that excessive movement of the member-tma v result ininjurytorthe :trainman, es ecially'if the'uncoupling device is operateby his foot. a

It will be apjpreciated that thellink 6 connecting theinner andouteri-leveruarmsand located inwardly of the pivot :casting, reduc'e'sthe friction between the lever arms in the act of lockingwhen thelmuckle:is moved toa closed or locked position; ,and

it will also be perceived that' the preferred form of the opening in theouter end oflthe inner lever member 5 and the bodyaof the 'pivot orfulcrum casting 3 are such thatno' binding takes place at any part ofthe operation of uncoupling. Vhen the trainman presses down on the outerend of the-0uter uncouplinglever member 4 the link 6 which connectsthelever members causes theouter end of the inner member 5 to moveupwardlyuntil said last named lever is released "from the control of the lockinglug 12. About this time the .inclined surface 14' of the inner levermember comes into contact with the projectioni'l5 of the fulcrumbracket, therebycausing the member 5 to shift laterally toward theoutside of the car. B this meansthe upper end of the locking up 12 andthe shoulder 13 are caused to over ap for a considerable inner'member' 5it also performs an upward (or uncoupling rotation asj the inclinedsurface 14 travelsalong the'projection' 15 of the bracket 3. hen thedownward forceiapplied tothe outer end of the member 4 is released afterthe uncoupling member5 has been moved sufiicientlyfar to raise thecoupler lockto unlocked position, theouter end of the ,Vinner'levermember movesidown until it rests upon and is supported'by the lookinglug 12 of the bracket, assuming the position illustrated in Fig. 4.If'the downward movement of the outer end of the ledistance. During thisla'teral shifting of the rotation necessary to effect a knuckle openingoperation of the coupler mechanism.

I claim 1. An uncoupling device for actuating the locking mechanism of acar coupler, said device involving an uncoupling lever com prising aplurality of relatively movable members one of which is adapted toactuate another to cause the latter to perform an uncoupling movement,and means for preventing said last named lever member from accidentallymoving to uncoupling position until after the lever member by which itis actuated executes a movement toward uncoupling position.

2. An uncoupling device for actuating the locking mechanism of a carcoupler, said device involving an uncoupling lever formed of a pluralityof members which are movable with respect to each other so as to changetheir angular relation, one of said members being adapted to causeanother to actuate the coupler locking mechanism, and means releasableupon a change in the normal angular relation of said lever member forpreventing said locking mechanism actuating members from accidentallymoving to uncoupled position.

3. An uncoupling device for actuating the locking mechanism of a carcoupler, said device involving an operating arm and an operated arm, andmeans for preventing said operated arm from accidentally assuminguncoupled position, said arms being relatively movable, and saidoperating arm being adapted to release said operated arm from thecontrol of said means.

al. An uncoupling device for actuating the locking mechanism of a carcoupler, said de- ,vice involving a rotatable operating arm and anoperated arm, said arms being independently movable and adapted to varytheir angular relation to each other during an uncoupling operation, andmeans releasable by said operating arm for preventing said operated armfrom accidentally moving to uncoupling position.

5. An uncoupling device for actuating the locking mechanism of a carcoupler, said device involving an uncoupling lever comprising anoperating arm and an operated arm, means for pivotally mounting theoperating arm on the car body, and means fixed with respect to the firstnamed means for preventing said operated arm from accidentally moving touncoupling position, said arms being relatively movable and havingoverlapping portions adjacent said pivotal mounting means.

6. An-uncoupling device for actuating the locking mechanism of a carcoupler, said device involving an uncoupling lever comprising relativelymovable inner and outer lever arm members adapted to change theirangular relation during uncoupling movement, means for movably mountingsaid uncoupling lever on a car, and means for operatively coupling said.arms so as to prevent the inner member from accidentally rotating towarduncoupling position.

7. An uncoupling device for actuating the locking mechanism of a carcoupler, said device involving an uncoupling lever having an outerrotatable member and an inner rotatable member, said members beingrelatively movable and the outer member being adapted upon performing anuncoupling rotation to induce a preliminary upward movement of the outerend of the inner member and a subsequent uncoupling rotation of thelatter, means for movably mounting said lever members on the car body,and means for preventing an uncoupling rotation of the inner memberuntil after the latter has moved upwardly.

8. An uncoupling device for actuating the locking mechanism of a carcoupler, said device involving an uncoupling lever comprising an outerrotatable member and an inner rotatable member, a link pivotallyconnecting said members for communicating movement from one to theother, and a fulcrum bracket on which one of said lever members ispivotally mounted, said bracket being provided with means forcooperating with the other of said lever members to prevent the latterfrom accidentally assuming uncoupling position.

9. An uncoupling device for actuating the locking mechanism of a carcoupler, said device involving an uncoupling lever comprising an outerrotatable member and an inner rotatable member relatively movablethereto, means for actuating said inner member upon an uncouplingmovement of said outer member, and a fulcrum bracket on which theuncoupling lever is movably mounted, each of said lever members beingrotatable with respect to said bracket about independent pivotal pointsand said inner member being slidable with respect to the bracket.

10. An uncoupling device for actuating the locking mechanism of a carcoupler, said device involving an uncoupling lever comprising an outerlever member and an inner lever member which are relatively movable,said members having overlapping portions, means for causing the outerlever member to communicate an uncoupling movement to the inner levermember, and a fulcrum bracket upon which said uncoupling lever ismovably mounted, said inner member being recessed at its inner end toreceive the bracket, the bracket being provided with a lug extendinginto said recess for cooperating with the inner lever member to preventan uncoupling rotation of the latter, and

said bracket also being provided with means for cooperating with theinner lever member to effect bodily shifting thereof when the latter isfree to perform an uncoupling rotation.

11. An uncoupling device for actuating the locking mechanism of a carcoupler, said device involving an uncoupling lever comprising an outermember and an inner mem ber, one of the members being pivotally mountedupon the-car and the other being slidably and rotatably movable withrespect thereto, said slidable and rotatable member being .formed with ashouldered opening,

and a bracket carried by the car and extending into the opening, saidbracket being provided with means for preventing an uncooperate so as toprevent the latter from' assuming coupled relation with respect to thebracket while the locking mechanism of the car coupler is in unlockedposition.

In testimonyv whereof I affix my signait WILLIAM KELSO.

